Apparatus for producing acetylene and lime hydrate



April 7, 1942. H. v. KOJOLA ET AL APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A(JE'ILENE AND LIME HYDRATE Original Filed March 2'7. 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [IN 11 NM Hun $3 I INVENTORS HUGO u KOIOLA MAURICE O'BRIAN BY ATTORNEY H. V. KOJOLA ET AL April 7, 1942.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AGETYLENE AND LIME HYDRATE Original Filed March- 27, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS HUGO M KOJ'OLA BY MAURICE O'BRIAN ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 7, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFHQE APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ACETYLENE AND LIIVIE HYDRATE Hugo V. Kojola, Kenmore, N. W and Maurice OBrian, Indianapolis, Ind., assignore to The Prest-O-Lite Compan New York y, the, a corporation of Original application March 27, 1936, Serial No.

71,210. Divided and this application Novemher it, 1939, Serial No. 3%,080

' 'sary to complete the reaction was used so as to utilize the heat carrying capacity of the excess of water to absorb the heat of reaction, since the reaction is highly exothermic. The principal disadvantage incurred in this method of generation was the production of the calcium hydrate as a lime sludge. to handle and .difilcult to dispose of since the calcium hydrate could be recovered in a dry and usable form only at considerable expense.

In an attempt to obviate this diiiiculty the process of dry generation was developed. In this process the calcium carbide is contacted with an amount of water limited to that necessary to completely react the carbide, plus an additional amount which is evaporated so as to utilize the latent heat of evaporation of the excess water to absorb the heat of reaction. While this process should produce a substantially dry residue, the acetylene evolved is saturated with water vapor produced by the evaporation of the excess water supplied for the purpose of limiting the maximum temperature of the generating process to 100 C. or lower. ture to a value below 100 0., there is a tendency for the moisture in thesaturated acetylene to condense upon the dryresidue when cooled, and thus defeat the very purpose of the dry generation.

Since the water used in the generation of acetylene almost invariably carries impurities in the form of dissolved gases such as air, any excess water usedin the generation of acetylene will increase the amount of those impurities. The presence of these impurities is especially disadvantageous in acetylene to be utilized-in This sludge was cumbersome By limiting the temperaacetone than acetylene.

chemical systems and in acetylene to be compressed and forced into cylinders containing acetone for the purposeof dissolving'the acetylene. In chemical systems the presence of these impurities and their accumulation will necessitate periodic blow-offs, which obviously interruptthe :cycle and cause a loss of gas. In acetylene used for compression into cylinders containing acetone and a porous filler, the presence of impurities will cause the pressure to build up abnormally because such impurities are much less soluble in A decrease in the amount of impurities will increase the amount of acetylene that can be dissolved in a cylinder without exceeding a desired pressure limit.

Broadly, the object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for producing a gas and a substantially dry residue by the reaction of .a solid and a liquid; and, more specifically, to provide an apparatus for producing acetylene and substantially dry calcium hydrate by the reaction of calcium carbide and water, such apparatus being adapted to efficiently produce the acetylene and the dry calcium hydrate at temperatures substantially in excess of 100 0., thereby rendering the gas substantially free from impurities. Other objects of this invention are to provide an improved apparatus for continuously producing a gas and a substantially dry residue by an exothermic reaction of a solid and a liquid which maintains the gas relatively dry and which requires a minimum amount of such liquid to be employed.

Theseand other novel features of this invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view.

. mainly in section, and showing an apparatus for producing acetylene in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the apparatus, the view being taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, of a modified form of gas generating apparatus; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, the view being 4-4 of Fig. 3;

stautially free from impurities, can be safely gen chamber.

erated in large quantities by the reaction of cal- .cium carbide with a. limited amount of water, if

the carbide and hydrate produced are kept in constant agitation and the proper amount of water is added at a plurality of points along a predetermined path in a generating chamber. At temperatures above 400 C., the decomposition of acetylene occurs. In addition, it has been found advantageous to remove the generated acetylene as promptly as possible so that the time of contact of the acetylene with the reacting portions of the carbide will be limited. By controlling the quantity of water supplied to only a slight excess over that theoretically required to complete the reaction (the exact amount depending upon the rate and temperature of generation in relation to the various features of the apparatus employed), a residue of substantially dry hydrated lime and acetylene gas having a considerably decreased moisture content may be continuously produced.

An apparatus for carrying out the reaction according to the invention comprises fixed horizontal tubular chambers arranged in single or multiple units according to the working space available and provided with agitator paddle conveyor means disposed longitudinally within each 'chamber, the construction of said conveyor passed through dust separating means and 2. cooler.

Briefly, ,the apparatus shown in. Fig. 1 consists of a vertical carbide supply hopper l2; disposed above a second vertical hopper l which is adapted to discharge carbide into an upper horizontal reaction chamber 36 at predetermined rates by means of a feed screw 99. A plurality of spaced rotatable paddles 35 mounted on an axially disposed shaft El are arranged to sweep the entire inner surface of the chamber, and adapted to continuously mix and convey the carbide to a vertically disposed passage 38 between the upper reaction chamber 36 and a lower horizontal reaction chamber til. In the lower reaction chamber spaced paddles 35a are provided on a shaft .lla as in the upper reaction chamber. Water may be introduced into the reaction chambers by spray nozzles ll, and the dry hydrate may be discharged into a lime hopper 33 through a vertical conduit 3| connected to the lower reaction chamber 3i at its discharge end.

The generated gas is adapted to pass through pipe 50 into a separator 5i and thence into a cooler 56.

In detail it will be seen that the upper carbide supply hopper i3 is provided with an airtight door H which is adapted to be closed by clamp l2, and a valve it to control communica- The gas after generation is preferably in bearings 20 and 20a positioned in the ends of the fed conduit. A suitable air-tight packing, which is not shown, is preferably provided at bearing 20. The feed conduit l'I communicates with the upper reaction chamber 36 through passage Zl. Shafts Ti and 21a carrying blades or paddles 35 and 35a are centrally located in the upper and lower reaction chambers and are journaled in bearings 30 and 39 provided in the ends of said chambers. An air-tight packing, also not shown, which may be similar to the one provided at bearing 20, is preferably provided at each of the bearings 30. The drive for the shafts Ill, 27, and 21a comprises a motor M driving reduction-gearing R connected to a shaft 24 on which is mounted a sprocket wheel 23 and a pinion 25. The sprocket 23 drives the shaft it through a chain 22 carried upon it and upon a sprocket 23a on the shaft I 8. The pinion 25 drives shafts 2i and 21a through gears 26 and 26a which intermesh therewith.

When the paddles 35 are turned by the shaft 2i, they are adapted to continuously agitate, mix

and convey the carbide through the length of permit removal of the dry hydrate, from time to time as desired.

The water to contact the carbide is supplied through a main supply line ll in which is placed a control valve 6B, a metering orifice (l2 and a now meter d3 actuated by the pressure drop of the fluid passing through the orifice. The upper and lower reaction chambers are served by supply pipes 641 and it, respectively, which lead from the main line The water is introduced into the reaction chambers from the supply pipes it and it by means of a plurality of branches id which enter the reaction chambers and are adapted to discharge the Water therein through a plurality of nozzles il The supply of water to each nozzle is controlled by a valve (it placed in its respectivebranch ct.

The generated gas or acetylene passes into the centrally located collecting conduits (49 shown more clearly in Fig. 2, and into the main header t ll. Thence it passes into a dust separating device or chamber 56 provided at its lower end with a valve 52 and adapted to remove and hold small particles of the dry hydrate which may be carried by the acetylene from the reaction chambers.

' From the separating chamber 5! the gas passes passes from the cooler at an outlet connection 58 and is led by a conduit 59 we gas holder or other suitable storage apparatus (not shown). The cooling water, upon its discharge from the cooler at a water outlet 60, may be discharged as waste or by-passed into the water supply line 4|.

A pipe 66 leading from the gas holder is connected to the upper and lower carbide hoppers aaraeai and the upper generating chamber through branches 6], vacuum relief seals 68, and pipes 69, lb, d All, respectively. The seals 68 are illled to a point above the lower end oi the depending pipe 61 with water or other suitable liquid. If a vacuum pccurs in either of the hoppers or in the generating chambers upon shut-down of the apparatus, the acetylene will flow back from the gas holder through the pipe 66 and seals 68.

The operation of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 is as follows: At the start, the valve I6 is closed. the valve l4 between the upper and lower carbide hoppers is opened. the clamp I2 is unfastened and the air-tight lid ll of the supply hopper I3 is swung to an open position. Carbide is intro-' duced into the supply hopper and passes into the lower hopper l5 through the open valve l 4. When both hoppers are full. the air-tight lid l l is closed and clamp l2 tightened down, and the carbide is ready to be fed into the generator. During the operation of the apparatus when the supply hopper needs to be refilled, the valve 14 is tightly closed, the air-tight lid H is opened as before, i

and the hopper I3 is filled with carbide. "Uponclosing and clamping the air-tight lid II, the de-' pleted carbide in the lower hopper l5 may be replaced by opening the valve 14 to permit the fresh carbide to pass from the upper hopper to the lower hopper. The supplyhoppers may thus be refilled while at all times excluding admission of air to or loss of gas from the generating chamber by the use of the double valve system provided by lid l1 and valve 14.

Before beginning the feed of carbide it is preferable that the reaction chambers and other gas spaces be purged of air by the introduction of acetylene from a convenient source. To feed the carbide into the generating chambers the motor M is started, which will cause the shafts I8, 21, and 21a to rotate, which in turn will cause rotation of the screw l3 and the paddles and 35a. The carbide feed and hydrate discharge valves I 3 and 32 are then opened, and the hydrate removal valve 34 closed. The carbide from the lower hopper will pass into the feed conduit II where it will be conveyed at a uniform predetermined rate by the screw |3into the upper reaction chamber 38 and conveyed along the reaction chamber by the paddles 35. To contact the carbide with water the contral valve 40 is opened to a degree suflicient to control the rate of water suppl to that desired and indicated by the flow meter 43, and the valves 46 controlling the nozzles 41 are opened in succession as the carbide conveyed by the blades progresses in its path through the generating chamber. The nozzles 41 project the water onto the agitated and moving mass of carbide which will rapidly react with the water to the hydrate. The paddles agitating the carbide and hydrate mass will continually present fresh absorb and react with any water inadvertently contained in the hydrate. In this way a substantially dry hydrate is conveyed to the discharge conduit ii from whence it will pass into the hopper 33 through the valve $2. In order to discharge the dry hydrate from the hopper 32' without interfering with the continuous operation of the process and without admitting air into the generating chambers,. the valve 32 may be closed,'the valve 34 opened. and the hydrate then discharged through the valve 3%, while hydrate produced during the discharge interval will c0llect in passage 3|. After the desired amount of collected hydrate has been discharged the valve 34 is closed and the valve 3! opened. 50 that the may be withdrawn at will through the valve 52.

When the valve 53 is open, the gas passes through conduit 54 to the cooler 58, entering the cooler through the gas inlet 55. The cooling water entering at 51 is distributed through tubes 62 by a header 33, to collect in the header 84 and pass firm the cooler at the outlet 60. The passage of iii] and unreacted portions of carbide to the action 1, of succeeding water additions. Reacted and untroduction of water at a pointsufiiciently prior to the end of the path so that the small portions of unreacted carbide remaining in the mass may the water cools the tubes, and the gas entering at inletand flowing in a path substantially counter to the path of the water is cooled by contact with the outside of the tubes. A set of baflles 6| in the cooler serves to direct the gas into contact with all or the tubes. passes through the outlet 58 and is led into the gas holder by means of the conduit 59.

As has been shown, the operation of the apparatus is continuous since the carbide supply hopper is adapted. to be charged, and the hydrate hopper is adapted to be discharged, without intertering with the operation 0! the generator. The amount of water contacting the carbide, which is measured so as to be only slightly in excess of that necessary to completely react the carbide introduced, is regulated by the valve 40 in conjunction with the rate of flow as indicated by the flow meter. In addition, suitable temperature indicating apparatus may be provided at various points along the path of reacting car bide and the'distribution of the water supplied to the several nozzles may be regulated by the valves 46 accordingly so as to achieve the most desirable working conditions.

While any suitable apparatus for effectively agitating and moving the mixture of carbide and calcium hydrate may be used in lieu of the paddles 35 and 35a, the paddles are considered advantageous since they have less tendency to interfere with the direct escape of the generated acetylene from the point .of generation to the space in the top of the generating chamber. This direct flow is advantageous, especially when the generator is operated under conditions in which the local temperatures approach 400 C., the dissociation temperature of acetylene, for the gas carries oil a considerable amount of the heat of reaction, and rapid removal of this heat is seen to be quite desirable.

' Another arrangement of the apparatus adapted for the generation of acetylene according to the'invention is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, where the upper and lower reactionchambes 36 and 31,

The cool gas the shafts 21, 21a, the paddles 35, 35a, bearings 30 and 39 correspond to the same partsin the apparatus of Fig. 1. The shaft 21' in this arrangement, however, is provided with an axial passage through which a cooling medium may be passed when it is desired to remove heat from the contents of the chamber 36 by conduction through the paddles 35 and the walls of the shaft 27' to-the cooling medium. The means for supplying the cooling medium, preferably water, here employed comprises a housing 90 covering each end of the shaft 21 and in which the shaft rotates. The housings 90 are provided with a water. inlet or outlet connection 9| communicating with the end of the passage in the shaft, and with a packing arrangement 92 to prevent escape of the water. The supply hoppers and feeding device including feed conduit I'I, shaft I8, and conveying screw I8 adapted to feed the carbide into the upper reaction chamber through conduit 2|, and the discharge hopper 33 with the discharge conduit 31 and valve 32 also correspond to similar parts in the apparatus of Fig. 1. In the apparatus of Fig. 3, the water is introduced into the carbide in the reaction chambers on the sides, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. The branch pipe 48 and valve 46 are provided with an extension I48 which enters the reaction chamber 36 and is afllxed thereto by a gas tight weld 86. This extension 8 is adapted to discharge the water onto the lower portion of the wall of the generating chamber through a widemouth nozzle portion I41.

In the apparatus of Fig. 3 the acetylene is pref erably discharged at a plurality of points at the top of the reacting chambers by means of collecting conduits I49 similar to the conduits 49 of Fig. 2, but having individual risers I490. which join and conduct gas into a main header I50. From the header I50 the acetylene passes through a valve I53, a conduit 80, and to a separator I5l by means of inlet 8|. Disposed in the separator is a filter bag 82 made of non-inflammable or heat resistant porous material, such as woven asbestos. The acetylene is forced to pass through this filter bag and in doing so will deposit the small particles of hydrated lime carried by it upon the inner surfaces of the bag. At periodic intervals the bag is shaken by means of filter bag shaking apparatus customarily employed for such purposes but not shown in the interests of clearness of the drawing. This causes the collected hydrate to fall from the inside wall of the bag down into a collecting receptacle 83 from which it may be removed at periodic intervals, or whenever necessary. After passing through the bag the acetylene passes from the separator through the outlet 84 and into conduit 85 which leads to the inlet of the cooler 56. The cooler 56 is similar in all respects to the cooler shown in Fig. 1 and the acetylene enters through the inlet 55 and, after being cooled, is discharged through outlet 58 into the conduit 59 which conducts it to the gas holder or other collecting means (not shown).

The operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 is substantially as follows The carbide is fed into the reaction chamber by the screw IS; the reacted and unreacted portions of carbide are moved and agitated along a path through the reaction chambers 36 and 31, and the hydrate is discharged through the conduit 3| in a manner similar to that employed in the apparatus of Fig. l.

The carbide, however, is contacted by the water in a manner dilferent fromthat employed in the apparatus of Fig. 1. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the water is fed in desired increments' into the side of the reaction chamber by the tangentially directedslotted nozzles I41 which project the water directly into the moving mass of carbide and hydrate instead of allowing it to fall through the gas onto the carbide. When operation is carried on at relatively high temperatures this method of contact is quite advantageous since the warm acetylene which is generated by the reaction of previous portions of water will not pass up through the spray and vaporize and carry away a portion of the water intended for use as a reactant and coolant of the solids. In Fig. 4 the height levels which the reacting solids may assume is shown by a broken line 81 and the nozzle is shown as conducting the water into the reaction chamber on the low side of the carbide, that is, on the side of the downward movement of the paddles 35. As succeeding portions of the carbide are reacted. the paddles in agitating and conveying the mixed solids along their path through the reaction chamber will break up small accumulations of hydrate that tend to collect near the nozzles and mix them with the reacting mass of solids so that the water is thoroughly distributed. The lighter particles of hydrate will tend to be carried to the high side of the line 81, since the lumps of unreacted carbide are heavier and tend to drop back and move along the bottom of the reaction chamber. By introducing the water at the side and directing it, so that it will flow down to the bottom of the reaction chamber the heavier lumps of carbide will be directly contacted by the water in preference to the lighter and smaller flakes of dry hydrate.

It will be seen that the continuous and thorough agitation of the lumps of carbide causes thelayers of hydrate that tend to accumulate on the surfaces of the lumps to be continuously removed as they are formed. This removal allows the water and steam to have more direct contact with the carbide so that although the reaction speed is increased, the loss of heat from the lumps of carbide is greatly increased by passage of heat to the apparatus and to the gas produced, and by loss of heat to evaporate water. The lumps of carbide are thus prevented from attaining excessive local temperatures which may cause .local decomposition of the acetylene. To further reduce the amount of excess water fed into the reaction chambers, it may be desirable to cool the chambers, for example by providing cooling water jackets around the chamber 36 and by providing passages through the paddle shafts for cooling water as shown in Fig. 3.

An alternative arrangement for introducing the. water is shown in Fig. 5, in which the branch pipe 48 is connected through the valve 46 to an extension 248 which enters the reaction chamber at the bottom thereof and ends internally in a longitudinally directed slotted nozzle 241. The extension 248 is afiixed to the bottom of the reaction chamber by a gas-tight joint such as weld 86. With this construction the slotted nozzle 24'! projects the water along the bottom of the reaction chamber in the direction of movement of the mass of reacted and unreacted carbide. The advantages of this method of introduction are the direct contact of the heavier portions of unreacted carbide which flow in the bottom of the moving mass of solids and the added propulsion which the projected water gives to the heavier portions of the moving mass.

An advantage, however, of introducing the water in the side, as in Fig. 4, over its introduction in the bottom, as in Fig. 5, consists in the diminished tendency of the nozzles ill of Fig. 4 to become clogged when a relatively larger amount of water is used, since the paddles 85 are always sweeping material away from said nozzles in a much more positive and certain manner than that with which the paddles 35 push the mass of solids over the nozzle 2".

When saturation with water vapor oi the acetylene conducted to the holder is not undesirable, a water-spray scrubbing tower may be used in lieu of the separator and cooler.

While the operation of the apparatus has been described as continuous, it is readily seen that it may be discontinuous, i. e., the generating reaction chambers may be first filled with carbide and then later contacted with the required amount of water, no more carbide being introduced until the reaction of the first portion introduced is complete, the process being repeated by successive batches.

While this invention has been described as being embodied in a specific form of acetylene generator, it will be understood that other constituents which produce a gas by the reaction of a solid and a liquid may be used in place of carbide and water, and other gases than acetylene may be produced. It will also be understood that in' a substantially dry state, means for cooling the carbide conveying means so as to remove .from said reaction chamber through said conveyingmeans a portion of the heat resulting action chamber.

3. In acetylene dry generation apparatus, the

. combination comprising a hopper adapted to contain calcium carbide, a horizontal reaction chamber, means for feeding carbide from said hopper into said reaction chamber at one end thereof, a rotatable hollow shaft extending into said reaction chamber, a plurality of blades attached to said shaft at spaced intervals and adapted to agitate the carbide in said reaction chamber and to convey such carbide through said reaction chamber, means for passing a cooling fluid through said hollow shaft, means for contacting such conveyed carbide with water at at least one point in said reaction chamber to produce acetylene and solid products of reaction, means for regulating the water in total amount, such that said solid products of reaction are produced in a substantially dry state, means for continuously withdrawing the generated acetylene fromsaid reaction chamber, and

changes may be made in the apparatus which will fall within the spirit of this invention.

This application is a division of our copending application Serial No. 71,210 filed March 27,

1936, now issued as Patent No. 2,204,184 of June 11, 1940, entitled TProcess for producing ene and lime hydrate."

We claim: 4

1. Apparatus for the production of a gas by the exothermic reaction of a solid and a liquid, which comprises a hopper adaptedfor storing such solid, a horizontal reaction chamber, means for feeding such solid from said hopper into said reaction chambergmeans for conveying and agitating such solid along a predetermined path in' said reaction chamber, means for contacting such solid with such liquid at a plurality of successive points along said path, means for regulating such liquid in total amount so that such solid is contacted with an amount of such liquid only slightly in excess of that theoretically required to react such solid completely 'a'nd so that substantially dry gaseous and solid reaction products are produced, means for withdrawing the generated gas from said reaction chamber at a plurality of points along said path so as to minimize the period of contact of said gas with the heated reactants, and means for discharging the final solid products of reaction from said reaction chamber.

2. In acetylene dry generation apparatus, the combination comprising a carbide hopper, a substantially horizontal reaction chamber, means for feeding carbide from said hopper into said reaction chamber at one end thereof, means for conveying such carbide longitudinally through said reaction chamber, means for contacting such conveyed carbide directly with water at a plurality of points in the longitudinal path of movement of such conveyed carbide to produce solid products of reaction and acetylene, means for regulating the water in total amount such acetylmeans for continuously discharging said solid products of reaction from said reaction chambet.

4. In acetylene generating apparatus, the combination comprising a carbide hopper, a plurality of horizontal reaction chambers disposed one about the other, and.'each having an inlet and an outlet end, the outlet end of one being connected in a gas-tight manner to the inlet end of the next lower reaction chamber so as to form a, continuous path through said reaction chambers, means for feeding carbide from said hopper into the uppermost of said reaction chambers through the inlet end thereof, means for agitating such carbide and for conveying such carbide through said reaction chambers andalong said path, means for directly contacting such carbide with water at a plurality of points along said path so as to react such carbide to produce acetylene and solid products of reaction, means for regulating the water in total amount, means for regulating the .water in amount at each of said points, means for withdrawing such generated acetylene in a substantially dry condition from each of said reaction chambers, and means for discharging said solid products of reaction from the lowermost of said reaction chambers.

5. In acetylene generating apparatus, the combination comprising a carbide hopper, a horizontal reaction chamber, means for continuously feeding carbide from said hopper into said reaction chamber, means ior continuously agitating and conveying carbide through said reaction chamber, means for contacting such conveyed carbide with water so as to react such carbide to produce acetylene and solid products of reaction, such last-mentioned means including at least one nozzle adapted to introduce such that said solid products of reaction are produced at One end thereof. means conveying and agitating such carbide through said reaction chamber and including a plurality of rotatable blades, and means for introducing water into said reaction chamber at at least one point along the side thereof so as to react'such conv yed carbide to produce acetylene and lime hydrateLsuch last-mentioned means including at least one nozzle adapted to project water directly into the lower portion of said reaction chamber along the side wall thereof and in the direction of rotation of said rotatable blades..

7, In acetylene generating apparatus, the combination comprising a horizontal reaction chamber, means for introducing carbide into said reaction chamber at "one end thereof, a rotatable shaft extending axially through said chamber and having-a passage for cooling medium, a plurality of blades aflixed at spaced intervals on said shaft for agitating and cooling the carbide in said chamber, and for conveying such carbide through said reaction chamber and in a direction away calcium carbide, a horizontal reaction chamber,

means for feeding carbide from said hopper into Said reaction chamber, conduit means for contacting the carbide in said reaction chamber with water so as to react with such carbide to produce acetylene and solid reaction products, means for agitating the mixture of carbide and said solid reaction products and for conveying such mixture longitudinally through said reaction chamber,

said conduit means including at least one nozzle adapted to introduce such water directly into said mixture and in the direction in which said mixture is conveyed through said reaction chamher, and means for discharging the generated acetylene and said solid reaction products from said reaction chamber.

9. Apparatus for the continuous and simultaneous production of acetylene and substantially dry calcium hydrate by the reaction of calcium carbide and water, such apparatus comprising, a reaction chamber; means for feeding calcium carbide into said reaction chamber; means for introducing directly into the carbide insaid reaction chamber substantially onlythat amount of water necessary to completely react such carbide to produce acetylene and'calcium hydrate;'means for continuously agitating the mixture of carbide and calcium hydrate in said reaction chamber and for conveying said mixture through.

said reaction chamber; means for directly contacting said .mixture with cooling surfaces while said mixture is agitated and conveyed; means for continuously circulating a cooling fluid in heat exchange relation with said cooling'sur'- faces; means for continuously discharging. the produced acetylene from said reaction chamber; and means for continuously recovering substantially dry calcium hydrate from said reaction chamber.

10. Apparatus for the production of acetylene and substantially dry lime hydrate by the reaction of calcium carbide and water, such apparatus comprising a carbide hopper, a plurality of hori-, zontal tubular reaction chambers disposed one above the other and each having an inlet and an" outlet end, the outlet end of one being connected in a gas tight manner to the inlet end of the next lower chamber; means for feeding calcium carbide from said hopper into the uppermost reaction chamber through the inlet end thereof, means for introducing directly into the carbide in at least the upper one of said reaction cham bers substantially. only that amount of water necessary to react the carbide completely so as to produce acetylene and substantially dry calcium hydrate, means for agitating'the mixture of carbide and hydrate and for conveying such mixture through said reaction chambers, means CERTIFICATE OF oomcmon.

Patent No. 2,27 21. April 7, 19h2.

HUGQ V. KQJOLA, ET AL.

It is hereby certifiedthat error appears in'the printed specitication of the above numbered. patent requiring correction as Tfollows: Page 5 first column, line 50, for "central" read --control--; page 5, second column, line 56, claim h, for "about" read --elbove--; and that am said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may confomto the record of the case in the 'Patent Office.

Signed "And. sealed this 26th day of May, A. D. 191 2.

Henry Vgn Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

